The Power We Hold

Welcome to The Power We Hold podcast. My name is Vanessa Albury. I’m a visual artist who grew up in the South, Nashville, TN, and went to college in Charleston, SC. I moved to NYC the day before my interview for graduate school at NYU in March of 2006 and ever since I’ve loved being here. I have invited the lovely human and brilliant artist, Caleb Williams to be my co-host on this journey because of her vast talents along with her willingness to have uncomfortable conversations with me and generously understand and believe in my intentions, integrity and love. We are here to support you on your journey into better allyship and Earth stewardship. I’ve started this podcast to mark my journey as I learn how to become a better ally to people (my BIPOC, LGBTQAI+ and fellow non-normative brained and bodied friends, neighbors and strangers) and a better steward of planet Earth, our shared home. I understand that people tend to listen to other people who look and sound like they do, so I’ve created this podcast to provide an example of how to navigate uncomfortable and even difficult conversations about race, gender, brains, bodies and the planet as a white person. Also I'm in the non-normative brain category. I have narcolepsy with cataplexy from C-PTSD. I am by no means perfect. I will likely step in it, saying the wrong thing, and I’m committed to digging deeper and learning. For those of you listening who are BIPOC, LGBTQAI+ and non-normative embodied, I thank you for listening and participating in the education process of informing the privileged classes of your experience of racism, sexism, ageism, body-ism and all the -isms in America. I understand that is a generous action and I’m grateful to you. I hope this podcast can give you, and us all really, hope for a future of equality and faith that many white, straight, normative people are on your side and truly want to create a better, equal and sustainable world together. To understand each other, we must discuss uncomfortable topics and learn how to relate to each other through them. With deeper understanding of each other, we can truly love each other. Thank you for joining me on this journey exploring The Power We Hold.